The new year brings in a lot of new things. New routines, new classes, new professors, maybe even new friends. Maybe you’ve found your new favorite coffee shop in Houston, or bought a subscription to a new gym. One thing’s remained the same though, you’re here, and they’re there.

You could be 100, 1000 or 10000 miles apart. It doesn’t matter, distance is distance.

There are two different scenarios:

ONE

You wake up every morning only to realize that you’re not seeing your “bae/boo/babe/love/honey” for another month. It was fine at first. The Facetiming, the occasional Skype dates, the nice and comforting “good morning, love” texts. It was only sufficient for a short while. But it’s been a throbbing six months of constant fighting over insignificant matters. You have this gut feeling telling you something’s off, and it may not be worth it anymore.

TWO

Or maybe it’s not like that at all. You looooooove your Sugar Plum. They know you like no one else would even care to. They’re understanding and loving. They don’t ignore your flaws but rather celebrate them because their love for you isn’t in spite of those things. The distance has only made your love grow fonder. You wish ALL relationships could be like this one.

Face it, relationships are complicated. And if that isn’t bad enough, a long distance relationship is straight up confusing and tiring. A long distance relationship is like that one fat cat.

The fat stray cat who roams your neighborhood streets pretending to scrounge for food, trying to lead his own life. He looks back to make sure everyone can see his effort in fighting for his life. He wastes all that time only to end up at your doorstep a few minutes later. Meowing that sweet melody and staring directly into your soul with their abnormally circular green eyes. Eventually, no matter how annoyed you are or how low stock you are on food, it works.

Every, single, time.

You love that cat. He’s super cute and plump, and you want him to stay that way. So you feed him all your love and affection and most importantly, your food. You’re going to grow broke very quickly, and you know it. But you can’t seem to let go. He provides some special comfort for you, like you provide some special comfort for him.

The point is, the fat cat essentially should provide a few basic services.

Comfort, happiness, and companionship.

No relationship is perfect, just like no human is. Doesn’t mean your relationship should be a symbiotic one, on either side. Here are few questions to ask yourself when suffering from long distance relationship voodoo.

Is it only good when you’re together in person?

Is it only good when you’re apart?

Do the source of all your issues stem from jealousy/possessiveness?

If you’re thinking “well crap, I answered ‘yes’ to all three.” Then, “well crap” indeed. It might be time for you to dig deep and think about what is really the best thing to do for yourself and the person you love. If you didn’t answer “yes” to any of the above, well, then maybe you should still rethink your relationship because you’re seriously running out of money and the fat cat is now so fat that he can no longer scratch his own ear.